Primary countdown: Fred MacKenzie, candidate for Pinal County Supervisor, District 4

The primary election is Aug. 28 and early balloting is underway. Between now and Aug. 20, InMaricopa.com will publish two to three Q & As at a time done with candidates in primary races.

Today: Fred MacKenzie, Republican candidate for Pinal County Supervisor, District 4. He is running against Nancy Discher, Raymond Petrulsky and Anthony "Tony" Smith. To see these candidates in a July 21 candidates’ forum click here (supervisor's portion at end of this video), here (majority of the supervisor forum) and here (closing remarks by unchallenged Democratic contender).

Name: Fred MacKenzie
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Saddlebrooke
Family: Married, no children
Education: B. A., Rutgers University
Hobbies: Sports, bicycling, swimming and following Notre Dame football
Favorite quote(s): “Expect a miracle” and “A rising tide raises all boats.”
Heart’s desire: To become a Pinal County Supervisor and to make a difference
Political experience: Conservative political activist; chairman Pinal County Citizens for Excellence in Government; precinct committeeman; director Saddlebrooke Republican Club; vice chairman Pinal County Republican Party; state committeeman; vice commander American Legion Post 132.

Why are you running?

Because the county is spending too much, taxing too much and is not business friendly. For the past five years, I have attended the vast majority of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors meetings and I have learned the issues and have come up with solutions. I can do a better job than currently is being done in Florence representing all of the citizens of Pinal County.
I will reduce taxes and the general fund budget, which is currently $190 million and going down to $184 million. That is still too much money and the county needs to spend that much to provide the necessary county services.

What is your biggest election challenge?

To gather support in Maricopa and in Arizona City, which were put into our new District Four with redistricting, Redistricting has put me in a district with new communities who don’t know me and my extensive Pinal County track record. I am the only candidate who has regularly attended BOS meetings in Florence and have established relationships with all of the key personnel in Pinal County Operations in Florence. I can honestly say “I have walked the walk and talked the talk.” I have the contacts and the knowledge of what is going on in Florence, as well as the knowledge of the issues.

Why should Maricopan’s vote for you?

For too long, Pinal County supervisors just took care of their own home districts and couldn’t care less about other districts in the county. That business model doesn’t work any more because there is too much competition domestically and internationally. If we don’t work together for the good of all of Pinal County, we will not succeed as a county. My goals in first term as Pinal County Supervisor: grow the economy and create new jobs; lower property taxes; balance the general fund budget; support the prosperity of all communities; support law enforcement and fire protections; establish a code of ethics; develop teamwork to create better outcomes.

Who are you voting for president?

Mitt Romney

What is the most pressing issue facing Maricopa? What would you do about it?

The problems outlined by Christian Price in his Jan. 28 debate in the MUSD building, some of which are listed below:
• Traffic delays caused daily by Union Pacific/Amtrak trains
• Poor business environment for small businesses
• Coordination of city police with PCSO and all other county law enforcement
• High unemployment
• High foreclosure rate
• High crime rate
• Poor air quality
• Too many empty lots
• Inadequate transportation infrastructure
• Leakage of jobs to Phoenix area
• Lack of local primary jobs
• Lack of access to city staff

I would work together with the Maricopa mayor and city council to resolve problems in a spirit of unity and partnership between city and county. However, as a Pinal County Supervisor, I will not be able to unilaterally do much to improve the above listed problems but will support the city anyway that I can. At the end of the day, the city of Maricopa must take the lead in solving its own problems together with state and federal agencies.

What should be the county’s biggest funding priority?

Hunt Highway and the Maricopa-Casa Grande grade separation.

What would you do to create jobs in Pinal County?

I will work together with both the Pinal County Economic Development Department + all of the other EDD in Maricopa, Casa Grande, Apache Junction, Florence, Coolidge, etc. We cannot survive on roof-top construction alone, we need jobs. To get jobs and companies to relocate to Pinal County, we need to have lower taxes, less regulation and a more business friendly climate than currently exists in Pinal County. Maricopa County is doing things right and as a result it has a bigger commercial business base. Look at all of the business on the Highway 60 in Pinal County and it is clear why the businesses stop at the county line.